Malo e lelei, Im officially in Prison.

Ok, well not really, I merely have started working for Huatolitoli prison here in the wonderful Kingdom of Tonga. I am a little late to this whole blog thing, but since I have not had enough time or reliable connection to the internet for the last 5 months, I decided the blog thing can wait until I start. I am now officially started, and now the prison is officially on 2 week vacation, so I figured no time like the present. So far my training has been the roller coaster we have all been warned about, but luckily I haven't been real sick, and my roller coaster has more closer resembled the teacups at Disneyland instead of the Matterhorn. Pictures will soon be up when I can run into the peace corps office and download them onto a flash drive. Biggest shock living in Tonga so far would have to be the apparent lack of hammocks, the only one I have seen is the one a fellow volunteer, Peter, has brought with him. Biggest excitement, actually having a cell phone and internet access at my job site, although I may be one of the lucky few. The biggest disappointment has probably been the apparent lack of napkins. While I am by no means a neat freak or germaphobe, I hate the idea of wiping my hands on my clothes. Ah...but after all I got into peace corps knowing I would give up comforts of home. I just didn't think it would be the type decision of whether or not to pick up my cell phone with dirty hands. Oh well.... I guess is Faka Tonga (the tongan way). Well I will leave you with a poem of a fellow trainee who unfortunately is no longer with us here in Tonga. It is a excellent snapshot in the life of a peace corps trainee/volunteer. Look for more posts and future pictures.


Highs and Lows
By Trent "Tahi" Wallace

As I walk down the street In my village today
All the Tongans I pass Say “Malo lei lei”

My spirits are high, A smile on my face
I feel like I’m home, Yes, I love this place

Snap back to reality, I hear a yelp
A dog’s being beaten, I think he needs help

I hold back my rage, With all of my might
Because sadly, in Tonga, This behavior’s alright

When language is over, We take to the court
We shoot hoops and play rugby, Or some other sport

Everyone’s happy, We have such a blast
We all laugh and play, Time passes so fast

Snap back to reality, My shower’s cold as can be
And the spider above, Is bigger than me

As I shampoo my hair, I keep open one eye
If the bastard touches me,There’s no doubt I’ll die

Just when I think I won’t make it a year
My house father shouts “Tahi, come drink a beer!”

I eat a huge supper, That’s fit for a king
When I’m with my family, I need not a thing

Snap back to reality, I’m reading in bed
When I hear a noise, That fills me with dread

A Mongomonga flies by, And makes my skin crawl
He gives me the finger, And lands on the wall

I choke down some Nyquil, While I drift off to sleep
I pray to the Lord, My soul he will keep

My dreams are all filled, With family and friends
And a girl that I like, Please don’t let it end

Snap back to reality, Very quickly I wake
To roosters and kids,And bells, for God’s sake

Although I’m quite pissed, On my face a smile grows
In Tonga you deal With the highs and the lows